Exeter Chiefs' status as underdogs can help us, says Arscott

Luke Arscott admits he and his Exeter Chief team-mates deserve more respect than they are getting, but the full-back is happy to be continually underestimated as the season enters a crucial period.

In only their third year in the top flight, Arscott and co. have established themselves as a team with genuine top-four ambitions, narrowly missing out last year on the play-off semi-finals.

And this time around Rob Baxter's team, still unbeaten at Sandy Park this season in the Aviva Premiership, are once again challenging the establishment, currently seventh but only three points off the top four.

And with fellow play-off chasers Northampton Saints their next opponents, Arscott insists he and his team-mates will be itching to avenge last season's defeat that effectively cost them a place in the end-of-season showdown.

"We are quite happy with people thinking that we are just a bunch of amateur Joes," he said.

"We know the effort that we put in and how hard we work as a team but if other people don't recognise that then it's fine by us.

"This is still only our third season in the Aviva Premiership and before long people's perceptions are going to change.

"Getting into the Heineken Cup last year was massive for the club, there has been a real buzz of excitement to have those sort of games here.

"And this season we want to get back into the top six so that we can keep that momentum going.

"But we know just how competitive the league is, this year even more so with teams like London Wasps and Gloucester both making strong starts.

"It's up to us to prove that we are worth that place back in the top six but to do that we are only looking at one group of games at a time."

Arscott has appeared in all 12 of the Chiefs' Aviva Premiership encounters this season, starting 11 of them, in what has been a much-changed Exeter back-line.

And the 28-year-old former Bristol full-back admits he is relishing the chance to prove himself on the highest stage.

"Obviously being given an extended run in the side has given me a lot of confidence and I'm happy with how I'm playing at the moment," he added.

"Playing in a competition like the Heineken Cup is fantastic and I'm happy to be helping my team continue to play well and hopefully we can push on in the second half of the season."

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